Starkill – Shadow Sleep (Album Review)

Modern times call for modernized techniques in new Heavy Metal music in order to keep the spark and the drive alive. That said, Melodic Death Metal as a sub-genre was not started until the early 1990s, and there still remains few and far between those bands that really excelled in this area. Dark Tranquillity and In Flames are among the founders and experts on this realm that combines elements of NWOBHM with Death Metal among other melodic techniques to create something unique and beautiful. In more recent times, an excellent, young band that has taken Melodic Death Metal to a new height and twist is symphonic Melodeath act Starkill. Emerging into the spotlight in recent years following the release of 2013’s Fires of Life and 2014’s Virus of the Mind, Starkill are currently signed to Prosthetic Records. A fresh start for the promising band, on November 4, 2016, they released their anticipated third album, entitled Shadow Sleep, and are currently on tour with a fantastic and appropriate line up that includes headliner Dark Tranquillity.

Those still fogging on the details of Starkill, they are led by mastermind Parker Jameson on lead guitar, vocals, and keyboards, Spencer Weidner on drums, Tony Keathley on guitar, as well as backing vocals, and Shaun Andruchuk on bass guitar. Their latest offer, Shadow Sleep, contains the magic number of thirteen tracks with songs on average lasting about three and a half minutes. There is so much intellect within the structure of these songs combining keys, guitars, and clean versus growl vocals in such a futuristic way, despite still clearly using the knowledge of the classic bands that came before.

Starting off with air raid sirens, the strong, symphonic and death vocals come in with “Walk Through Fire,” having a slight reminiscence vibe to Finntroll. That said, they certainly keep an original tune with the switch-ups to more melodic and clean vocals and crazy fast distorted riffage. Next, “Burn Your World” is again a great mix of heavy guitar with melodic jumps that are very original and quite impressive. Moving on, “Through The Darkness” is a very symphonic based track again mixed with guitar solos for days and has a very new age sound on the forefront of it all. The title-track is rightly named such with all the right elements combined in the most effective way to leave a lasting impression on its listeners. They even take a few notes from bands such as Carach Angren with some of the symphonic nature they let loose.

Delving into the longer tracks, of around four minutes in length, “Piece Of Paradise” is full of harmonized melodies and classic guitar riffs. This serves much in the way of a ballad style tune in comparison to the heaviness of the rest of the album. It can be described in feeling as a similar moment to the point in the story of The Wizard Of Oz where Glenda the good witch floats down and helps Dorothy calm down by giving her guidance and the tools she needs to carry on. Later on, “Into The Grey” plays on the symphonic and clean with the death growl spurts intertwined with the out of control in the best way possible guitar solos, and is perhaps one of the catchiest and most marketable tunes on the album.

Shadow Sleep’s cover artwork features a double mask or broken faces with an above centered clock. Inside that center is a brain leading to the possible conclusion that time is in control over all, no matter how much thought travels where ideas are formed. Here there is still no escaping the wrath of time and what it may or may not allow. That explained, “No Savior” further exemplifies this thought train and circular logic that can not be erased. Interestingly, the next tune is called “Erase Me” and it is interrupted with a backing track announcement about a tragedy that then goes into clean to growl vocals in a very fast and exciting switch-up. Finally, “Farewell” and “Captive Of Night” brings the climax and ending to Starkill’s latest story in a heavy, yet fruitful, energetic, and technically sound way.

It is extremely exciting to see a younger generation band excel on so many levels as Starkill has. Taking bits here and there from their masters and in turn creating something so fresh, clean, creative, technical, as well as in-depth, Shadow Sleep is an exceptional album. The most amazing part of this album is that they continue to impress by throwing Symphonic with Death, Goth, NWOBHM, and European classic Metal elements. In such a dark, sad world, a new promising light has risen, ironically named Starkill. Without further contemplation, CrypticRock gives Shadow Sleep 5 out of 5 stars.